Mythology: Ragnarok

Chapter 332 Begging for mercy

Xuan Yuan Mu Ze sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, I understand your laws, but aren't the laws regarding family relationships a bit too inhumane? Besides, the policy of not allowing women to have abortions isn't very good either. After all, what if there are some unexpected reasons or if the pregnancy is caused by assault? You can't force someone to give birth, can you?"

Agreed sighed, then explained, "What you said makes sense. Although rape is very rare in the Kingdom of All Races, I can't guarantee it doesn't happen. Since neither of us can convince the other from an ethical and moral standpoint, let's analyze this issue from a perspective of interests."

You must be aware of the interests of the Kingdom of All Races. Our interests lie in how many children can become soldiers, magicians, and scientists. What is the prerequisite for all of this? It is the complete and equitable distribution of educational resources and a high-quality birth rate. Therefore, for me, every newborn is a potential high-quality asset. I must ensure that I do not easily give up on any child in order to maximize my interests. You can understand this, right?

Of course, I'm not saying that women should only be reproductive machines. That's not what I mean. Don't talk to me from a moral high ground. I'm just talking about the interests of the tribe. I also understand how important women are as the most important role in procreation within the tribe and how much pressure they bear. Therefore, in the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Tribes, women who give birth to a child will receive a reward of four thousand gold coins, regardless of whether they raise the child or not. Moreover, if you choose to raise the child, you will receive all the benefits that the most special profession in the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Tribes, the 'housewife,' deserves.

In the Kingdom of Myriad Races, every housewife receives a monthly salary of 3,000 gold coins. Furthermore, the laws of the Kingdom of Myriad Races explicitly prohibit the exchange of personal assets within the family. Even between partners, only the exchange of food and daily necessities is permissible without strict accounting, and partners can only exchange gifts not exceeding 500 gold coins. Therefore, in the Kingdom of Myriad Races, women can achieve financial freedom even if they only have children or are housewives. If you want to be a career woman, that's also possible. 'Except for breaking the law, you can do whatever you want.' This is the basic freedom that ordinary citizens of the Kingdom of Myriad Races receive from birth. If you get pregnant, just leave the child with the Emma Welfare Home; we will raise the children.

Even if you say you don't want to do anything and don't want to raise the child, I still understand. You can just dump them at Emma's Welfare Home, it doesn't matter. After all, that's normal. Even though the moral education in the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races is very comprehensive, and even though the economic and welfare policies of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races are very perfect, we still can't stop some beasts who have no maternal instinct, no sense of responsibility, and no indirect value to the race from appearing. Moreover, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races is very tolerant. You just want to be a parasite. As long as you participate in reproduction, regardless of gender, you have value. The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races allows your existence.

However, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races clearly stipulates that no one is allowed to interfere with a child's choices through moral blackmail or coercion, including what the child wants to learn, who the child wants to associate with, and so on. Parents have no right to interfere with these things.

If you want to hear my explanation, I can still give you an answer from a benefit perspective. Suppose that you are still not found to have magical talent at the age of eighteen, and you do not want to join the army or go to the research institute for further study, wouldn't you get married and have children or find a way of life? Then the common people are the main force of reproduction, can I say that?

Since magicians, soldiers, and scientists honestly don't have much time to have children, what group are the parents who have children from a profit perspective? Most of them have already lost their direct value to the Kingdom of Myriad Races, right? And the children still have the potential to become magicians, scientists, and soldiers—that logic makes sense, doesn't it?

Why should I offend those who might have direct value to me for the sake of a group of people who are only indirectly valuable to me?

Or rather, why would I side with the parents and oppose the new generation who could potentially become the backbone of this country in the future? Do I look that stupid to you? I can tell you with certainty that in the event of a major disaster or other choices, I will always stand with the children of the common people, as long as it's not a matter of principle. Even if one day this country has to abandon some people to maintain its own survival, I will only say one thing: magicians, soldiers, scientists, and children are my first line of defense; common people adults are the second line; and officials, businessmen, and the elderly are the third line. Don't give me any other advice. If you ask me why I made this choice, I can tell you without any guilt that it is in the interest of the community, and it is in my own interest!

That's just how I am. I make the rules crystal clear, and I do things simply, directly, and without hesitation! If you don't like it, you can leave this country, but my choice won't change.

Xuan Yuan Muze was speechless for a moment after being confronted by Agreed. He wanted to refute it, but what Agreed said made a lot of sense, so Xuan Yuan Muze could only agree: "Okay, if you put it that way, then I really have nothing to say. But this time with the Ministry of Education, you have to give those officials a chance to live. You can't condemn a whole bunch of people with one stroke, right?"

After hearing this, Agreed helplessly raised his hands in surrender and compromised, saying, "Okay, you've convinced me, friend. Here's what we'll do: I'll use the Ministry of Education's hotline to get the officials to resolve this issue. If they can report this to the higher-ups, the Undead Patrol or Press, or if they can resolve these issues internally, I'll spare their lives. But... if they outwardly comply but inwardly defy me, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

This is our agreement. As for the outcome, let's go to the First Compulsory Education School that Bisheny reported tomorrow and witness it for ourselves, okay?

Xuanyuan Muze readily agreed, "Okay, then it's settled then."

Agreed nodded, then glanced at his watch and said, "Are you hungry? Let me treat you to something. There's a pretty good restaurant around here, interested?"

"That's great, you lead the way."

The two exchanged a smile, and then Agreed led Xuanyuan Muze to dinner, while Xuanyuan Muze silently prayed that the officials would accept the hard-won chance to live that he had secured for them.